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Planning for Unplanned Spend
2017 and 2018 saw an uptick in unplanned spending as companies struggled with new trucking regulations, brutal weather, and tariff changes. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have high expectations of suppliers, pushing them to comply with production requirements. But because life is unpredictable, suppliers may fall behind on component production. If suppliers don’t meet their deadlines, […]
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ERP Drives ROI
In the past, studies have shown a lack of success in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) implementations. But those statistics may be out of date, according to a survey conducted by Mint Jutras and published by Ultra Consultants. Sixty-seven percent of manufacturers and distributors responding to the survey rate their ERP implementations as successful or very […]
Read MoreThe 8th M for Supply Chain Success
In the competitive world of business, every organization is seeking an edge—a catchy marketing phrase, an innovative product launch, improvements in efficiency and productivity—something to create a little separation to provide that illusive competitive advantage. Companies with a strong Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) program constantly use analytics to evaluate their processes to ensure maximum efficiency […]
Read MoreFind and Fight Forced Labor
The following strategies can help shippers reduce their risk of unknowingly using forced labor in their supply chain, says Danny Shields, vice president of industry relations at risk management company Avetta: Warning signs: Determine if forced labor is part of your supply chain—at any level. Social media can help monitor what people say about your […]
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No Light at End of Retail Tunnel
The decline of physical retail stores isn’t expected to slow down any time soon, finds a Coresight Research report. U.S. retailers have announced 2,187 closings to date in 2019, including 749 Gymboree stores, 251 Shopko stores, and 94 Charlotte Russe locations. Payless ShoeSource also is reported to be considering its second bankruptcy. Online retail growth, […]
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Let’s Get Digital
Transitioning to a cloud-based platform with real-time visibility and automation capabilities is crucial for retailers to maintain full control of their supply chains. Yet 85 percent of U.S. retailers haven’t digitized their supply chains, finds research from Gravity Supply Chain Solutions. Although only 15 percent of U.S. retail businesses have digitized their supply chains, 60 […]
Read MoreAMH Equipment Gets a Lift
The Automated Material Handling (AMH) equipment market is expected to reach $53.59 billion by 2024, according to a Research and Markets report. One major motivator behind the market boost is a growing presence of start-up companies that employ robotic solutions for warehouse automation. The increasing popularity of AMH equipment among leading industries, significant recovery in […]
Read MoreSoutheast Asia Connects
Southeast Asian nations Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam are among the most connected companies in the world, beating expectations by the widest margins. That’s one finding of DHL’s Global Connectedness Index—an analysis of globalization as measured by international trade flows, capital, information, and people. Improved supply chain networks within the region and ASEAN policy initiatives […]
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Transport Companies Mail It In
In 2018, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) spent nearly $16 billion on outside purchases, and six of its top 10 contractors provide transportation services or equipment (see chart), according to Husch Blackwell’s annual Top 150 U.S. Postal Service Suppliers list. As a whole, air transportation suppliers increased their USPS revenue in 2018 from 2017’s totals: […]
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Keeping Air Cargo Safe
Here are a few tips for keeping your air cargo safe during large freight shipments: Audit and analyze processes to find potential threats. Go over the shipment process from start to finish. At each step, determine what security threats are present and where extra precautions are necessary. Revisit this plan each time a process changes […]
Read MoreBack to School
Developed countries need to “urgently” boost adult training and education programs to deal with future mass job upheaval brought on by automation, recommends an Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report. One in seven jobs is at risk of being fully automated while another 30 percent will likely be overhauled, the OECD analysis finds. […]
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Digital Supply Chains: The Modernization Gap
In supply chain and logistics, a wide chasm separates digital innovators from those that still rely on traditional, manual approaches to optimizing their operations. Janeiro Digital, a digital business consultancy, surveyed 98 mid- and senior-level supply chain managers to learn about this disparity in digital maturity. With notable giants such as Amazon dominating the supply […]
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Choosing a Freight Bill Processor
As freight payment processor IPS Worldwide heads to bankruptcy court, shippers are reminded how important it is to be diligent when choosing a freight bill processor. Stanley Black & Decker learned it the hard way, alleging in an interview that IPS "diverted, stole or otherwise misappropriated" its funds and owed the company an estimated $41 […]
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Robots on the March
A growing number of warehousing and logistics companies are incorporating robots to remain competitive in a market driven in large part by consumers that demand rapid fulfillment. At the same time, robotic warehousing and logistics technologies are advancing in capability and becoming more affordable each year. The demand for robots and the supply of advanced […]
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Trade War Threatens Sourcing Ethics, Quality Control
The U.S.-China tariff standoff in 2018 triggered challenges to global sourcing and there may be subsequent threats to ethics and quality control, according to a recent report by global quality control and supplier compliance service provider QIMA. The geographic sourcing diversification movement away from China is already underway, confirms QIMA’s year-end survey of 100+ businesses […]
Read MoreLeveraging Data for Speed and Efficiency
Constant optimizations drive transportation and logistics (T&L) processes. To compete in this ever-evolving sector, you need to be able to take full advantage of the data at your disposal. Here are the critical steps you can take to manage your T&L data to best optimize for efficiency, price, and speed. Share information. Data is generated […]
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